Hinge assembly

ABSTRACT

A metal hinge is mounted on a plastic base of a carrying case or the like for supporting an instrument or machine (e.g. a sewing machine) for pivotal movement relative to the base. The hinge comprises a pivot support member carrying a pivot pin on which the instrument or machine is pivotally mounted. The pivot support member is received and secured in place in a suitable channel in the base member and the pivot pin is secured in suitable slots in the base member disposed adjacent to the aforementioned channel.

[45] Feb. l, i972 Unite States aient Vance PAT'ENTEU FEB l i872INVENTOR. WooosoN H. VANCE ATTORNEY HINGE ASSEMBLY Carrying cases whichare economically made from plastic material frequently require hinges tomount a pivotal structure thereon. For example, sewing machines aresometimes required to be pivotally mounted to a rigid plastic base of aportable carrying case in such a manner that in one pivotal position,the machine is accommodated in the closed case and in another pivotalposition, the machine is located above the case and exposed for use byan operator. It is of course desirable to make the hinge as strong aspossible, particularly because of the concentration of forces at thepivot of the hinge. Accordingly, it is preferable to make the hinge ofmetal parts which tend to be stronger and longer lasting than plastichinges. However, since the base of the carrying case is preferably madeof plastic, an economical and practical arrangement is required tosecure the metal hinge to the plastic base.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a metalhinge for a plastic carrying case or the like which can be manufacturedand assembled at low cost.

A further object is to provide a metal hinge which can be easily andpermanently secured to a plastic base of a carrying case or the likewithout requiring any special tools or other complicated assemblyprocedure, the arrangement being such that once installed, the hingecannot be inadvertently removed and thus, for practical purposes, may beconsidered permanently installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hinge assembly for pivotally supporting aninstrument or machine (e.g., sewing machine) on a base member ofaplastic carrying case or the like, comprises a pivot support memberaccommodated within a channel within the base member. The pivot supportmember mounts a pivot pin which in turn supports the instrument ormachine for pivotal movement relative to the base member. The basemember is provided with means for receiving the pin and locking thelatter in position on said base member. A depending flange on the pivotsupport member extends out of the aforementioned channel in the basemember and engages a means on the base to secure the pivot supportmember and engages a means on the base to secure the pivot supportmember thereto.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following specification when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portable carrying case made inaccordance with the invention and having hinges for pivotally supportingan instrument on the base portion of the carrying case, the lowerportion of the case being broken away and shown in section to revealinner constructional detail;

FIG. 2 is a perspective fragmentary view on a larger scale, showing thehinge in position above the base of the carrying case before assembly onthe latter;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3 3 ofFIG. l;and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.2.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. l shows a portable carrying case 10having a cover 12 and a base 14. The base I4 has a circumscribing ridge16 onto which the bottom edge of the cover 12 is adapted to fit.Suitable means such as latches 18 are pro vided to hold the cover 12 inplace on the base 14.

The portable case l is adapted to be used for carrying an instrument ormachine, (not shown) for example a sewing machine, in such a manner thatthe machine may be pivoted on the base 14. Thus, the machine may bepivoted to one position wherein it will be accommodated in the closedcarrying case l0 and to another position where, with the cover 12removed, the machine is raised above the base 14 and is readily usableby an operator. j

Two hinges 20, 22 are provided to pivotally support the machine on asidewall 24 of the base 14. Each hinge 20, 22 is comprised of threeparts: namely, a cylindrical stud 26 to which the machine is affixed bymeans not shown, a pivot pin 28 about which the cylindrical stud 26 ispivoted, and a pivot support member 30 which is affixed to the sidewall24 of the base 14 and which mounts the pivot pin 28.

The pivot support member 30 is adapted to be received in a channel 32 inthe sidewall 24 of the carrying case base I4 and to be locked therein.To this end the sidewall 24 of the base 14 is provided with a transverseslot 34 located below the bottom of the receiving channel 32 and whichis adapted to receive a tab 36 (FIG. 3) formed on the endof a forwardlydepending flange 38 on the pivot support member 30. Also the sidewall 24of base 14 is provided with a pair of slots 40, 42 at opposite sides ofthe receiving channel 32 and communicating with the latter. The slots40, 42 are adapted to receive and mount end portions of the pivot pin28. The arrangement is such that the pivot pin 28 is engaged by thesidewalls of the slots 40, 42 whereby such engagement, along with theengagement of the tab 36 within the slot 34, serves to secure and lockthe hinge 22 to the base 14 of the carrying case 10.

Turning to a more detailed description, the pivot support member 30comprises a generally U-shaped upper portion having upright legs 44, 46joined to a base portion 48, the previously mentioned downwardlydepending flange 38 being joined to the base portion 48 at substantiallyright angles to the latter. The pivot support member 30 may be readilyformed an an integral unit from a sheet metal stamping. Each of theupright legs 44, 46 is provided with an opening just slightly largerthan the diameter ofthe pivot pin 28 thereby to rotatably support thelatter in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The U-shaped portion of the pivotsupport member 30 is accommodated in the receiving channel 32 and tothis end, the distance between the two upright legs 44, 46 and the widthof each upright leg 44, 46 are substantially equal to the width anddepth respectively of the receiving channel 32.

The cylindrical stud 26 is pivotally supported between the two legs 44,46 of the pivot support member 30 by the pivot pin 28. Thus the endportion of the stud 26 has a transverse opening with a diameter slightlylarger than the diameter of the pivot pin 28 to slidably and rotatablyreceive the latter. The stud 26 may be provided with a reduced diameterportion 50 (FIG. 3) to facilitate securing the stud 26 in a bore in theside of a frame of a device such as a sewing machine (not shown) andthereby pivotally support one side of the sewing machine on the base 14or the carrying case 10. A setscrew (not shown) or the like may beutilized on the machine frame to bear against the reduced diameterportion 50 of the cylindrical stud 50 and thereby secure the machine tothe stud 50.

The sidewall 24 of the base 14 in which the hinges 26, 22 are mountedmay be made up of two spaced panels 52, S4 integrally joined by a toppanel 55 as best shown in FIG. 2. In the area where the hinges 20, 22are mounted, the two panels 52, 54 are joined by an enlarged, integralbuttress or block 56 (FIG. 3) in which the receiving channel 32 isformed. The channel 32 is defined by general flat walls joined at rightangles to one another.

The previously mentioned, slots 40, 42 open up into the channel 32 ascan readily be seen in FIG. 2, and it will be apparent that the endportions of the support pin 28 will be accommodated in the slots 40, 42when the pivot support member 30 is received and accommodated in thereceiving channel 32. The distance between the end walls 58, 60 of theslots 40, 42 respectively and the transverse width of the slots 40, 42are slightly larger than the respective length and diameter of the pivotpin 28, whereby the latter may be received in said slots 40, 42.However, in order to lock the pivot pin 28 in position in the bottom ofthe slots 40, 42, the sidewalls of the latter are molded with inclineddetent portions 57 (FIG. 4) which define a restricted throat 62therebetween. The smallest distance between the two opposing detentportions 57 is less than the diameter of the pivot pin 28. The detentportions 57 need not run the full length of the slots 40, 42 but mayextend from the slot end walls 58, 60 a short distance into therespective slot 40, 42. The bottom ofthe slots 40, 42 are circularthereby to form a socket or seat 59 for the pivot pin 28. As can best beseen in FIG. 4, the upper portions of the detents 57 gradually convergeto define the previously mentioned narrow throat 62 disposed just abovethe circular seat 59 for the pivot pin 28. In this regard it will benoted that the base 14 is made form a suitable plastic material such ashigh-impact polystyrene. Thus, the properties of the plastic materialand the structural arrangement in the area of the detents 57 is suchthat the pivot pin S8 may be manually forced or snapped past the throat62 into the bottom of the grooves 40. 42 as will be further explained.

As can best be seen in FIG. 4, an integral buttress 64 is provided inthe corner formed by the side panel 52 and top panel 55 on either sideof the previously mentioned buttress 56. The butresses 64 are providedto accommodate the longitudinal end portions of the slots 40, 42. Asuitable opening 66 may be provided in the bottom of the slot 40 openinginto the space between the two panels 52 and 54. As may be desired, thepanel 52, facing inwardly of the case 10, may have an indentation 68about the channel 32 and slot 34 whereby when the hinge is installed,the flange 38 of the pivot support member 30 will be flush with thesurface of panel 52, as can best be seen in FIG. 3.

In order to assemble the hinge, the cylindrical stud 26 is placedbetween the upright legs 44, 46 of the pivot support member 30 and thepivot pin 28 is slid longitudinally into the aligned openings in theupright legs 44, 46 and through the opening in the cylindrical stud 26.After this is completed, the subassembly will appear as shown in FIG. 2.Therefore, the pivot support member 30 with its legs 44, 46 upright isplaced in the upper part of the receiving channel 32 and simultaneously,the end portions of the pivot pin 28 are placed in the adjacent slots40, 42. The flange 38 is inclined outwardly of the plane of theindentation 68 so that the tab 36 is clear of the latter. With the pivotsupport member 30 and pivot pin 28 so disposed, the tab 36 on the flange38 will project below the bottom of the channel 32 and be disposedagainst the surface of the indentation 68 between the bottom of thechannel 32 and the slot 34.

Thereafter, the pivot pin 28 is manually depressed so that its ends areforced past the throats 62 formed by the detents 57 to seat in thecircular bottom ends 59 of the slots 40, 42. As the pivot pin 28 isforced into position, the plastic material of the detents 57 andsurrounding structure will momentarily flex to permit the pivot pin 28to pass through the throat 62, whereupon the pivot pin 28 will be lockedin a seated position in the bottom of the slots 40, 42, The pivot pin 28may be forced past the throat 62 by grasping the cylindrical stud 26after the latter has been placed in an upright position and pushing thestud 26 downwardly until the entire subassembly including the stud 26,pivot support member 30, and pivot pin 28 are forced into their lowerposition in the channel 32 and slots 40, 42. When in the latterposition, the tab 36 on flange 38 will be aligned with the slot 34 inthe panel 52. The flange 38 is now manually pushed inwardly towards thepanel 52 to force the tab 36 into the slot 34. The tab 36 may beupwardly inclined, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide an upper terminal edge70 which when inserted, is located in a position to abut the upper wallof the slot 34.

It will be observed from the above description that it is necessary torotate the pivot support member 30 slightly about the axis of the pivotpin 28 in order to introduce the tab 36 into the slot 34 to the lockingposition shown in FIG, 3. It will be apparent that the circular pathtranscribed by the upper terminal edge 70 of the tab 36 on flange 38during each pivotal movement will tend to interfere with the upperoutside corner 72 (FIG. 3) of the slot 34. Accordingly, during assemblyit will be necessary to force the tab 36 into the slot 34 in order toget the terminal edge 70 of the tab 36 past the corner 72 of the slot34. As the tab 36 is forced past the comer 72 into the slot 34, theflange 38 and other parts of the pivot support member 30 willmomentarily flex slightly to permit the assembly. In this regard it willbe seen in FIG. 3 that the base portion 48 of the U of the pivot supportmember 30 does not rest on the bottom of the channel 32, therebyenhancing the flexibility of the structure during assembly. Onceassembled, the tab 36 will be locked in the slot 34 because the circularpath about the pivot pin 28 of the terminating end 70 of the tab 36 willinterfere with the corner 72 of the slot 34, said terminating end 70naturally tending to transcribe said circular path upon any removalattempt.

In the mounted position of the hinge 22, the pivot support member 30 isrestrained from vertical upward movement by the location of the pivotpin 28 beneath the restricted throat 62, and also by the engagement ofthe tab 36 with the upper surface of slot 34. The pivot support member30 is also restrained against turning movement outwardly of channel 32by interference ofthe tab terminal edge 70 with the upper surface ofslot 34 adjacent the corner 72, and also by the flush engagement of theinner edges of legs 44 and 46 against the wall of channel 32. It willthus be appreciated that once the hinge 22 is snapped into mountedposition, it is impossible to remove except by the use of a screwdriveror similar tool in serted between the flange 38 and the underlyingsurface of block 56, and employed to forcibly pivot the tab 36 out ofslot 34.

Although only the hinge 22 has been described in detail, it will beunderstood that the hinge 20 is of the same construction.

From the above description, it will be seen that there has beendescribed a hinge which may be inexpensively manufactured and which isadapted to be secured easily and permanently to a plastic base of acarrying case without requiring any special tools or other complicatedassembly procedure. The arrangement is such that the hinge, onceassembled, cannot be inadvertently removed and thus, for practicalpurposes, may be considered to be permanently installed. The hinge maybe made of metal (e.g., steel) to provide the necessary strength whileincorporating a design which enables it to be readily and securelyinstalled on a plastic base member.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious that numerous omissions, changesand additions may be made in such ernbodiment without department fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge assembly comprising a base member having a channel therein, apivot support member accommodated in said channel, said pivot supportmember mounting a pivot pin thereon, said pin pivotally supporting anelement adapted to be pivoted relative to said base member and havingend portions projecting laterally outward of said pivot support member,said base member having means receiving said pin and locking the latterin position on said base, said receiving means comprising a pair ofopposed and aligned slots in said base member disposed on opposite sidesof said channel, said slots being open on the top in order to receivesaid projecting end portions of' said pin, and opposed detent portionsin the sidewalls of each of said slots spaced from one another adistance less than the diameter of said pin but sufficient to permit thepin to be manually forced transversely past said detent portions adepending flange on said pivot support member located exteriorly of saidchannel, and a tab on said flange er1 gaged within a slot opening insaid base member, said tab and slot cooperating to secure said pivotsupport member to said base member.

2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pin is initiallyassembled in said slots before said tab is inserted in said slot openingso that said tab transcribes a circular path about the centerline ofsaid pin as the tab is inserted in said slot opening, said slot openingbeing located so that a wall of the latter normally interferes with theaforementioned circular path, said pivot support member havingsufficient flexibility to *momentarily flex to permit said tab to beforcibly inserted in said slot opening past said normally interferringslot-opening wall, whereby once inserted the tab is locked in said slotopenmg.

3. A hinge assembly according to claim 2 wherein said tab is defined byan end portion of said Gange which has been best back on itself over anangle greater than 90.

4. A hinge assembly according to claim l wherein said pivot supportmember comprises a U-shaped portion having a base and a pair of spacedlegs upstanding from opposite ends of said base, said flange dependingsubstantially perpendicularly from one side of said base remote from thebase ends from which said legs are upstanding.

5. A hinge assembly according to claim 4 wherein each of said legs areprovided with an opening to slidably receive and support said pivot pin.

6. A hinge assembly according to claim 4 wherein said tab is integralwith the bottom end of said depending flange and underlies the base ofthe U-shaped portion of said pivot support member.

7. A hinge assembly according to claim l wherein said channel is formedin a side wall of said base member, said sidewall being comprised of apair of spaced plastic panels integrally joined to a top panel, and abuttress integrally joined to said spaced panels and top panel in whichsaid channel is formed.

8. A hinge assembly according to claim l wherein said pivoted elementcomprises a cylindrical stud pivotally supported by said pin betweenspaced legs of said pivot support member.

1. A hinge assembly comprising a base member having a channel therein, apivot support member accommodated in said channel, said pivot supportmember mounting a pivot pin thereon, said pin pivotally supporting anelement adapted to be pivoted relative to said base member and havingend portions projecting laterally outward of said pivot support member,said base member having means receiving said pin and locking the latterin position on said base, said receiving means comprising a pair ofopposed and aligned slots in said base member disposed on opposite sidesof said channel, said slots being open on the top in order to receivesaid projecting end portions of said pin, and opposed detent portions inthe sidewalls of each of said slots spaced from one another a distanceless than the diameter of said pin but sufficient to permit the pin tobe manually forced transversely past said detent portions a dependingflange on said pivot support member located exteriorly of said channel,and a tab on said flange engaged within a slot opening in said basemember, said tab and slot cooperating to secure said pivot supportmember to said base member.
 2. A hinge assembly according to claim 1wherein said pin is initially assembled in said slots before said tab isinserted in said slot opening so that said tab transcribes a circularpath about the centerline of said pin as the tab is inserted in saidslot opening, said slot opening being located so that a wall of thelatter normally interferes with the aforementioned circular path, saidpivot support member having sufficient flexibility to momentarily flexto permit said tab to be forcibly inserted in said slot opening pastsaid normally interferring slot-opening wall, whereby once inserted thetab is locked in said slot opening.
 3. A hinge assembly according toclaim 2 wherein said tab is defined by an end portion of said flangewhich has been best back on itself over an angle greater than 90*.
 4. Ahinge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said pivot support membercomprises a U-shaped portion having a base and a pair of spaced legsupstanding from opposite ends of said base, said flange dependingsubstantially perpendicularly from one side of said base remote from thebase ends from which said legs are upstanding.
 5. A hinge assemblyaccording to claim 4 wherein each of said legs are provided with anopening to slidably receive and support said pivot pin.
 6. A hingeassembly according to claim 4 wherein said tab is integral with thebottom end of said depending flange and underlies the base of theU-shaped portion of said pivot support member.
 7. A hinge assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein said channel is formed in a side wall ofsaid base member, said sidewall being comprised of a pair of spacedplastic panels integrally joined to a top panel, and a buttressintegrally joined to said spaced panels and top panel in which saidchannel is formed.
 8. A hinge assembly according to claim 1 wherein saidpivoted element comprises a cylindrical stud pivotally supported by saidpin between spaced legs of said pivot support member.